When BMW began promoting its cars as the “Ultimate Driving Machine” in the 1970s, the company soon grew to become one of the world’s top luxury automobile manufacturers.
BMW has a long history of producing eye-catching vehicles and SUVs that receive high praise from automotive writers.
Both auto fanatics and everyday people who just want the best for their vehicles greatly prize them.
Because they are high-performance luxury vehicles with excellent interiors, a smooth ride, high levels of comfort, and some of the best technological features available, BMWs are a good investment. BMW is a brand that embodies high status, and their cars offer an exceptional driving experience.
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BMWs are expensive to maintain.
BMWs are by far the most expensive car manufacturer to repair, claims Your Mechanic. The competition is not even close. With an average maintenance cost of $17,800 over ten years, BMW comes in #1. Mercedes-Benz came in second with an average maintenance cost of $12,900 during a 10-year period. In contrast, the typical Toyota only cost $5,500 to maintain during a 10-year period because they are recognized for requiring less maintenance.
According to Your Mechanic, such high maintenance costs are usual in German premium vehicles. Audi comes in sixth with an average $12,400 maintenance expense over a 10-year period. This is primarily a result of the pricey, high-end parts that these luxury vehicles require. Naturally, it will cost a lot of money to fix those pieces when they break or need maintenance.
However, while being premium vehicles, they also have ongoing problems. For instance, according to Your Mechanic, a BMW is four times more likely to not start than a typical automobile. It was ranked seventh overall as a result. Additionally, the window regulator on the BMW required replacement 18 times more frequently than the window regulator on the ordinary car.
Objections To Purchasing A Used BMW
BMW is renowned for producing some of the best driving machines the world has ever seen, yet the majority of mechanics will advise you to steer clear of pre-owned models.
Once upon a time, BMW was a renowned automaker, a premium German brand with a lengthy history and an amazing collection of vehicles crisscrossing the globe. Sadly, though, circumstances are now different for the employees at the Bavarian Motor Works. The brand has been permanently damaged with prior owners and do-it-yourselfers due to an emphasis on producing mass-market automobiles that don’t age well.
August 2021 revision: You’ll be delighted to know that we’ve updated this post and go into more detail about the many issues a Bavarian automobile owner may run into if they decide to purchase a used BMW. This should assist you in making the greatest choice for your upcoming automobile purchase.
The majority of knowledgeable owners and mechanics will advise you to avoid used BMWs, especially those manufactured within the previous 20 years or so. Simply put, they are not worth the money you will undoubtedly have to invest in them. They are expensive to repair, have expensive replacement parts, and require a lot of labor.
They certainly have a cool appearance and a certain charm. But when you force personal checks to pour in at the neighborhood Euro repair shop, that beautiful siren tune will finally hit a string of unfavorable notes. Here are 15 compelling arguments against buying a used BMW.
Reasons Why BMWs Are Worth the Price
Are you looking for a new car and thinking about a BMW? If you’re on the fence, the asking price is probably the reason. Even though these cars are more expensive than certain other models, they also include amenities that come from no other manufacturer. These are some of the quality, luxury, performance, and dependability factors that make BMWs an investment that is worthwhile.
Are the potentially high repair costs for used BMWs worth it?
We’ve all been there: We purchased an old BMW at some point, only to discover that it required considerably more repairs than any vehicle from a more reasonably priced, reputable manufacturer would. For instance, a used 3 Series will likely have higher repair costs than an identical-year Camry or Accord with comparable miles. Nevertheless, they are the same size, can accommodate the same number of people, and ultimately serve the same purpose. German pricey, intricate cars like BMWs are frequently expensive and difficult to maintain. So why do we continue to do it?
We BMW aficionados don’t have a choice, so why can’t we afford brand-new cars with lavish warranties, do we? Yes, we could purchase a Camry for a far lower price than a 3 Series of a comparable age, and the Toyota would be much more dependable throughout the course of the same ownership time. Moreover, due to lower part costs and simpler repair processes, any repairs will often be far less expensive. Would those vehicles, however, satisfy our innate desire to drive something special? No, most likely not.
Nothing wrong with a Camry, really. Or any other reasonably priced midsize car, like a Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, etc. All of these vehicles are excellent and will offer years of enjoyable, trouble-free driving. However, they won’t possess that distinctive zing, will they? Although the Accord is normally quite enjoyable to drive, it is not a 3 Series. Since the 3 Series is the most popular BMW on the secondhand market, I’m only using it as an example, but this rule applies to all BMWs and its more reasonably priced, dependable competitors.
Because I’ve only owned older German (and one Swedish) cars, I frequently find myself in situations like these. Here is the list of vehicles I own: E36 1996 BMW 328i, 2012 Volkswagen Passat, E46 2004 325i, 2005 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro, and 2006 Volvo S40 2.4i (which I got from my wife’s car). With the exception of the Passat, all of which have caused me a great deal more issues than any equivalent inexpensive vehicle would have. If I’m being completely honest, there were many times when I wished I had purchased a Honda rather than a German vehicle while I lay underneath one that simply wouldn’t comply.
But when it comes to buying a car, I can’t bring myself to settle for something less enjoyable to drive. I may be an automotive masochist, but I adore my relationships with my stupid, bothersome, but wonderful German automobiles. Why are German cars like the BMWs worth the probable high repair costs? simply because they are so enjoyable to drive. Of course, if you want even more assurance, you can always purchase a BMW Extended Warranty.
What drawbacks are there to buying a BMW?
High Costs of Ownership (Con) The fact that having a BMW will cost you more than buying an average automobile won’t come as a surprise. You’ll require premium fuel, top-tier tires, and more expensive, imported parts. Additionally, labor costs and a change of synthetic oil will be higher.
What’s it like to be a BMW owner?
Reasons to Buy a BMW BMWs are renowned for being dependable. You may drive without concern thanks to the transmission and engine’s high quality. BMWs are a terrific ride on the freeway, across the countryside, or in the city due to the CO2 statistics and reasonable fuel economy they give compared to vehicles of a comparable size.
What advantages come with owning a BMW?
BMWs are among the safest vehicles you can buy because of their design. Every year, BMW receives safety pick awards, demonstrating their excellence as one of the best. Active knee protection, all-season traction, upgraded braking system, hill descent control, lane departure warning, night vision, run-flat tires, and airbags everywhere are a few of its cutting-edge safety features.
BMW is known for producing some of the most opulent vehicles. Each vehicle’s construction is carefully thought out for comfort and aesthetics. Because only premium materials were chosen, you get the impression that you are driving in style. This standard is used to build even the entry-level BMW models, which also use carbon fiber or aluminum inserts to make them even sportier and more fashionable. BMWs are a well-known status symbol, so you may brag about your accomplishments.
A BMW is the way to choose if you want a car with as many features as you can get. Even the cheapest model of a BMW comes with more amenities than the majority of fully equipped vehicles from other manufactures. You receive fantastic value for your money with this. BMWs are also always in demand, which means they don’t depreciate as much as some other cars, so you can always sell it for a good price.
The cutting-edge technology included in BMWs will provide you maximum performance and speed when you are driving. They equip the majority of their models with V-6 or V-8 turbocharged engines to increase performance. Because of how well-tuned their suspension systems are, you won’t even notice the majority of road imperfections.
The Pfaff advantage entails selling you a car in the manner in which you desire. We no longer use traditional sales methods where different clients receive various discounts. You won’t need to bargain with upfront pricing.
We won’t increase the price of your deal in any way. We will make you a formal offer if you have a car to trade, but you are under no obligation to accept any of our offers. And thanks to our return and exchange policy, you can’t buy the wrong automobile.
Is a BMW or a Mercedes better?
BMW remains the overall champion when it comes to luxury performance, even if the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is one of the best-performing large luxury sedans on the road right now. Customers should choose a BMW automobile if they want performance and style in one convenient package.
Why do consumers choose BMWs?
Simply said, drivers have practically endless reasons to choose a BMW over a car from another manufacturer since BMW offers the highest performance, safety, and quality out of any luxury automobile brand. After purchasing your first BMW, you won’t ever want to purchase another car from any other manufacturer.
Why are BMWs so well-known?
Performance and Fashion The bulk of the vehicles have rear-wheel drive and superb handling, making daily driving comfortable and pleasurable and reducing stress associated with commuting. In addition to all of this, businesspeople like BMW because of the brand’s reputation for style and prestige.
Why is maintaining a BMW so expensive?
Because it’s a German car with specialized parts and technology, maintaining a BMW is pricey. BMW is not only a vehicle to move passengers from point A to point B; it is designed for driving aficionados. BMW’s advanced technology calls a specialized certification to be repaired correctly. A skilled BMW mechanic will possess the knowledge necessary for a thorough and effective repair.
A $400 battery replacement, for instance, might be necessary because the mechanic must register the battery with the engine control module. If not, the battery risk of an early demise since the vehicle won’t “know” how to charge it.